Sir Clive Woodward has backed England to reach a third successive World Cup
final despite their recent defeat by Wales.

The 2003 World Cup-winning coach, however, has warned England manager Martin Johnson not to risk taking just two scrum-halves to New Zealand in the wake of Danny Care’s tournament-ending injury.

Woodward, currently the British Olympic Association’s performance director, has also indicated that he is still keen to return to the Rugby Football Union after the 2012 London Games, despite the turmoil that has engulfed the governing body following the sacking of John Steele as chief executive.

Care was ruled out of the Rugby World Cup on Tuesday after it emerged that he required surgery to a toe injury he sustained against Wales and faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines, with Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson now in strong contention as back-up to Ben Youngs and Richard Wigglesworth.

Johnson had been understood to be considering taking just two scrum-halves, given that Northampton full-back Ben Foden can cover that position having played there for his former club Sale Sharks.

But Woodward insisted: “With a squad of 30, my personal opinion is that you must take three specialist scrum-halves because you have to have one on the bench and because of injuries. I have read that Foden could stand in at scrum-half but in the specialist positions — hooker, scrum-halves — you generally still need three.”

Matt Dawson, who was Woodward’s scrum-half for the 2003 triumph, was even more emphatic. “England would be absolutely mad to go to New Zealand without three specialists,” said Dawson. “Can you imagine lining up against Argentina and Scotland – let alone the knock-out stages – with somebody who doesn’t play scrum-half for their club. Are we seriously considering withdrawing possibly our No 1 strike runner – Ben Foden – just to fill in at scrum-half?”

England’s performance in their 19-9 defeat by Wales alarmed Johnson, but Woodward said: “If England had kicked their goals and knocked over a couple of dropped goals they would have won comfortably,” said Woodward, speaking at a lunch organised by the Sports Journalists’ Association. “It is not as if they haven’t had enough ball.

“England have got a really good draw and it would be a major upset if they didn’t win their pool. That should put them against France [in the quarter-finals] and Australia [in the semi-finals]. Historically, we have a really good record against those two in World Cups. I think we are in good shape.” The RFU’s bungled failure to appoint a performance director caused Woodward to walk away from the job in May. But he said: “It hasn’t put me off at all to be fair. Rugby is still my sport.”